evolution Artistic
Growth of duo’s relationship helps make Ryanhood ‘stronger musicians’
Ryan David Green is grateful to be back at home in Tucson.
It’s a place where he likes to spend more time these days.
In fact, he and Cameron Hood make up the indie folk duo Ryanhood, and the duo decided to get its touring schedule in order.
“Our current model of touring is to go out for three to 10 shows and then come back home,” he says. “It’s frequent shorter tours, and we raced back for the Tucson Folk Festival. It keeps us fresher.”
Ryanhood formed in Boston in 2003, and currently both live in Tucson.
In the 15 years since forming, the duo have found fans in the likes of Jason Mraz, American Authors, Lifehouse, Train, Jay-Z and Kelly Clarkson. The duo also have a fan in Ellen DeGeneres.
They both have different musical influences. Hood’s include Lindsey Buckingham, John
Lennon and Paul
McCartney. Green’s influences include
Chris Thile, Béla
Fleck, Julian Lage and Joe Satriani.
It’s their love of music that keeps them making records. In 2017, the duo released a fulllength album called “Yearbook” and a
Christmas album,
“On Christmas.”
The duo are currently touring in support of “Yearbook” and Green says they are busy at work on an album.
“We’re currently in writing mode,” he says. “We’ve started to think about the next project and can’t wait to see what comes up.”
Over the course of the 15 years, Green says, the writing dynamic has evolved.
“Cameron was the main writer when we first started,” he says. “I functioned more as the arranger and, at times, producer. Most of the lyrics came from him. Gradually, I started to write more. I think it’s because we push each other within music. He pushes me to write, and I push him as a guitarist. It’s a relationship that has evolved to make us stronger musicians.”
Green says the biggest part of making it last for 15 years is respect and communication.
“There’s a reason 90 percent of rock ’n’ roll bands break up,” he says. “We make sure that we encourage each other. It’s like working on a marriage. I push Cameron musically, and he pushes me narratively. We have our different strengths and put them together to make the best music we can.”